Key retainer



pril 39, 1935. P. RBARTHELEMY L99952 KEY RETAINER Filed March 1l, 1932 Inventor Paul Pa/lemy l y W yi Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNI-TED" STATES PATENT @FFICE 5 Claims.

lThis invention relates to improvements inkey retainers.

V1n the .operation of railway cars, damage is frequently caused .by failure of the coupler key, onaccount of the key'becoming accidentally dislodged and in some cases completely detached because the retaining means-does not meet conditions vand function properly. One type of coupler key` retaining means commonly used, which has .been found troublesome because it is not reliable, is inthe form of a headed pin having the shank extending through an opening in the .end 4of .the key and wherein vthe retaining means is heldin `position by a cotter .pin or "other securing `means extending through" the .shank thereof below the key. This type of retaining means las used has the head elongated `transversely of the key and the .ends thereof rounded.` Due to the unbalanced Vcondition lbrought about by .the .elongated head of this type iogf retainer, combinedl with .the downward Vtaper extending from the pin receiving vhole'outwardly to the end of the draft key, vibrationsof .thecar cause :a decided tendency of the retainer to assume a position wherein the long axis ofthe head is .disposed lengthwise of the key and .crowded .against the .web of .the .adjacent sill, causing the retainer to be tilted, thereby subjecting .thesame to bending strains and forcing it upwardly. This action frequently results in stripping olf ofthehead or shearing olf of the securingcotter pin thereof and loss of the retainer. Loss of the retainer is also caused by shearing off ofthe Cotter pinthrough engagement of the cotter with rivet heads pro.- k.iecting from the web of `the draft sill.

The main object of `my invention is to provide retaining means for coupler keys, which overcome the defects hereinbefore pointed out.

Another object of the invention is to prevent binding of the head of the retainer against the Vadjacent draft sill by providing the retainer with a head so shaped that contact thereof with the draft sill will itend to rock the head about the -verticalaxis of the Vretainer in .a direction away .romthesill A further object of the invention is to prevent turning of the retainer in the opening of Vthe `coupler key by .providing a tight frictional nt between .the Vshank of the retainer and the .walls .ofthe opening Vin the key.

A still further object of the invention is to Vprovide a retainer for coupler -keys having rigid `means thereon in shouldered engagement with `the-key'holding the A.retainer locked to the k'ey.

Other objectsof the invention Willniore clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

in the drawing, forming a part of this specication, Figure l is a longitudinal, vertical sec.- tional view through the underframe structure at 5 one end of a railway car, showing the outer side of one of the center or draft sills in elevation and illustrating my improved coupler key retaining means in connection therewith. Figure 2 is -a transverse, vertical sectional View, corresponding 10 substantially to the line 2 2 of Figure l. Figure 3 is a detailed elevational View, on an enlarged scale, of the improved retaining means shown in Fig-V ures .l and 2. Figure Il is a bottom plan View of the retaining means shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 15 is a detailed perspective view of the retaining means, illustrating the same applied to the coupler key, the latter being shown in dotted lines. And Figure 6 is an edge elevational View of a central spreading element employed in connection with 20 my improved retaining means.

In saiddrawing, ll-l l designate the center or -draft sills of a railway car provided with the usual front stop lugs ll-l l, which are secured to the vertical webs of the sills by rivets. The 25 shank of the usual coupler is indicated by l2 and has a transverse key slot I3. The coupler shank-is connected to the usual `yoke i4 by means of thecoupler key l5, which extends through slots .l5- i6 in the yoke and the slot i3 of the coupler `30 shank. The key has its opposite ends working in the usual guide slots ifill provided in the dra-ft sills. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the key I5 is of the Vtype having a retaining head I8 at one end and a .vertical opening I9 through the other -35 end adapted to receive a detachable retaining element. The opening i9 as shown is of circular cross section.

My improved coupler key retaining means comprises broadly a pair of outer sections A-A and-a 40 `central filler `plate B.

The two sections AA are of similar design, Veach `comprising a shank portion 2D having Vtop and bottom laterally outwardly projecting flanges 2l and 22. The shank 2G of each section A has 45 a cylindrc outer surface 23 vwhich engages 'the corresponding curved wall section of the opening IQ of the key l5. On the inner side, the shank 2U of each section A is flattened, asindicated at it, so as to t squarely on the outer side of the rFO central spacing plate B. The top and bottom flanges 2l and 22 of each section Aare spaced apart'so that the flanges 2| and 22 will embrace the key I5 on ,the top and bottom sides. The `flanges 2| of the two sections A are of considerably 55 greater thickness and also project a greater distance laterally from the sections than the flanges 22-22. The ilanges 22 are of such a size that they will pass through the opening i9 of the key i5 when the spacing plate B is omitted and the sections are inserted in succession. In other words, the flanges 22 are of such a size that after insertion of either of the sections A through the opening i9 and displacement of that section laterally outwardly to an extent that the curved surface of the shank thereof seats on the curved wall of the opening I9, the other section may be inserted in the remaining space provided by the opening ES, the clearance being suflicient to permit free passage of the head 22 of the last named section.

The filler or spacing plate B is of such a size that it fills the space between the two sections A-A and holds the same separated, as yshown in Figures 3, 4:, and 5, with the flanges 2l and 22 overhanging the key. I5 adjacent to the opening i9 and the shank portions 25k-23 of the sections A-A fitting the walls of said opening i9. The plate B is preferably of resilient flexible material and is slightly waved or bowed longitudinally, as clearly shown in Figure 6. By providing the waved or bowed arrangement of ller plate, the same when inserted between the sections A-A will yieldingly spread the same apart and press the outer surfaces of the shank sections Eil- 28 into tight frictional engagement with the corresponding wall portions of the opening i9,

`thereby holding the retaining element against rotation in said opening. As will be evident, due to the curved structure of the plate B, the sectional retaining element readily accommodates itself to openings in the key, which vary slightly in diameter. At the upper end, the plate B is provided with a tapered head 25, which seats on beveled faces -28 provided on the inner sides of the sections A-A. Ihe head 25 prevents downward movement of the plate B with respect to the sections A-A. At the lower end, the plate B is reduced-in thickness, as indicated at 2l, said reduced portion being split centrally, as indicated at 23, to provide a pair of bendable tangs, which may be bent over in opposite directions, as shown in dotted lines at 29-29 in Figure 3. The angularly bent sections 29-.29 serve to hold the plate B against upward displacement with respect to the outer sections A-A of the retaining means.

The flanges Zl-ZI at the upper ends of the `sections A-A and the headed upper end of the plate B together form an elongated head, which has its'long axis disposed transversely of the key i5. The flanges 2 I -Zl are cut away at the outer ends along curved lines, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5, thereby providing tapered fulcrum sections i-3i? adapted to rock upon the web of the adjacent sill in case of Contact of the head of the retainer with said web. Thesection of the head between the sections30-3 presents parallel flat side faces, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In assembling the retaining element with the key I5, one section A is first applied by inserting the end having the head 22 through the opening i9 and displacing the section outwardly as hereinbefore pointed out. The other section A is then inserted in a similar manner and displaced laterally4 outwardly in an opposite direction. After the sections have been thus applied, the filler plate B is inserted between the same through the top of the retainer. When the head of the plate B has ybeen seated on the beveled faces of the sections A-A, the tangs at the lower end of the plate B are bent over to provide shouldered engagement between the same and the bottom ends of the sections A-A. As will be evident when the parts have been thus assembled, the sections A-A are held in tight frictional engagement with the walls of the opening i9, and the flanges 2|-2I at the top ends and the flanges 22-22 at the bottom ends overhang the key l5 adjacent to the opening i9 so asto provide .shouldered engagement between the retaining means and the key and positively prevent endwise removal of the retaining means from the key.

In order to facilitate withdrawal of the member B from between the sections A-A, the former is provided with an opening 3! adjacent to the upper end thereof, within which the end of a lifting tool may be engaged.

As will be evident, in the operation of my improved retaining means there is very little tendency of the retaining means to be rotated about its axis due to the unbalanced condition of the head because of the frictional engagement between the outer sections A-A of the retaining means and the wall of the opening i9. However, in case the retaining means 'should rotate so as to bring the head thereof to a position where lthe same will engage the corresponding sill, the tapered arrangement of the end of the headwill produce a camming action to return the read to its original position. Inasmuch as the ller member B is protected by being disposed between the sections A-A, there is no danger of this member becoming damaged and disengaged from the other parts. Further, by providing the retaining flanges at the lower ends of the sections A-A ofthe retaining means, suficient clearance is at all times provided between the lower end of the retaining means and the projecting rivet heads on the sills to avoid contact between these parts, which would otherwise result in damage. A y

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: l 1. A retainer for coupler keys. including a pair of outer sections and a central filler section, said outer sections having laterally outwardly projectingfianges at opposite-ends forming top and bottom heads, the flanges forming the top head extending laterally in opposite directions and projecting to a greater extent than saidbottom flanges, said top flanges being tapered outwardly in opposite directions lto provide'a trans-'- Versely elongated head having taperedy ends, said end portions .of the tapered sections being coincident with the central longitudinal axis `of said head.

2. A retainer for coupler keys, including a pair of outer sections and a central filler section between and embraced at opposite sides by said outer sections, said outer sections having said embracing portion thereof corresponding in width to the width of the ller section, said outer rsections having a shank portion provided with laterally outwardly projecting flanges at opposite ends forming top and bottom heads, the flanges forming the top head extending laterally in opposite directions and projecting to a greater extent -than said bottomflanges, said top flanges being tapered outwardly in opposite directions to said shank fitting within the opening of said key; of resilient means embraced at opposite sides by said shank throughout the Width of the shank and holding said shank expanded in tight frictional engagement with opening.

5. In a retainer for a draft key having a retainer receiving opening at one end, the combination with a pair of outer sections extending through said opening, said sections being headed 10 at opposite ends; of a bowed resilient filler plate therebetween for yieldingly forcing said outer sections apart and into tight frictional engagement with the Walls of the opening of the key, said iller plate being of not greater Width than l5 said outer sections.

provide a transversey elongated head having tapered ends, said central ller section being in the form of a resilient exible bowed plate for holding said outer sections yieldingly separated.

3. A sectional retaining element for a draft key which is headed at one end and has an opening through the other end, said retaining element tting within the opening of the key, said retaining element including outer sections and yielding means between said outer sections for forcing the sections apart into tight frictional engagement with the walls of the opening, said means being embraced throughout its width by said outer sections.

4. In a retaining element for a draft key having an opening adapted to receive said element, the combination with a member having an expansible shank and a transversely elongated head, PAUL P. BARTHELEMY.

the walls of said 5 

